Question: Should my child be using a foot mat while practicing violin?

This is an excellent question that a parent asked me a while ago, so I thought others might have the same question. There is not a easy straightforward answer to that question so I will walk you through why or why not your child should use a foot mat.
 
What is a foot mat? A foot mat really can be a number of things ranging from a piece of cardboard with foot outlines drawn on it to a rug or small platform.

Foot Mat with "Puddles"

Why would a violin student need one? Good posture and stance is incredibly important to violin playing. Every other part of playing the violin, from holding the instrument properly to doing vibrato to bowing spiccato, all depend upon having good balanced posture.  Having a foot mat reminds students where and how to stand correctly. It also helps students who are just starting out learn to stand still for a longer period of time. Most students who are just starting are not used to having to stand in one spot for more than a minute or two. Violinists need to learn to stand and play for quite a few minutes at one time (some songs get really long!).
 
Would I use a foot mat with every student? Nope. Every student is different and has different needs. I would use a foot mat with very young students (4 to 6 year olds). I may use a rug or small platform with a slightly older student, if they were having trouble moving around the room during lesson too much. But once students get older, they tend to be able to stand where I tell them without moving around too much…plus, they also tend to be a little too “cool” for a foot mat. 

​With a young student, how do I know what kind of foot mat to use? If your teacher recommends one, go with the one she/he recommends. I tend to shy away from ones that have too precise of footmarks drawn onto the cardboard or manila folder (as I sometimes use). I usually draw large, general outlines so the student doesn’t get stuck with a very ridged posture. Violinists need to be able to move a little bit and adjust their feet as needed. Sometimes I just draw large “puddles” on the mat where their feet should be. As long as their feet are in the “puddles” I am happy with them. That way they can move a little bit but still maintain a good balanced posture.

Rug as a Foot Mat